Is Ciber Warfare Legally Similar to Taking Up Arms Attacks?

Even if you hackd you could still be shot. So setting behind you a computer and attacking in cibe space is legally similar to taking up arms attacking in the real world. Heather Harrison denis says they are not combatants because they are not taking a direct part in hostilities. She also adds this interesting fact, if someone were to engage in ciber warfare, they only lose their civilian protection for the duration of the attacks they are making. Once they stop making siber attacks, they regain that civilian protection. That sounds murky though, doesn't it? Because could you not get people flipping and flopping between saying, wli was hacking yesterday, but i'm not hacking to day,